If you are a student coming from a low-income home, then you may find schooling uneasy. This is because you have financial issues to deal with along with your academics. Those days in school, I remember how I lost concentration studying my books for my final year exam due to my inability to pay tuition fees, especially when the exams were around the corner. The thought of the disturbance I will get from our head of department and other necessities that require money flooded my mind and got me unfocused. In all these, I tried to find ways to keep my sanity and also to avoid repeating a class.

Image designed using canva

I also remember not attending Camp Fire Night, the student government all-night program that was usually fun, because I couldn't pay the fee. However, I wouldn't forget in a hurry the good friends I made in school, who are still part of my life today and impact me positively in diverse ways. Education is a vital aspect of an individual's life. Although it doesn't guarantee one to be rich, the knowledge alone we get from being educated is wealth, and that means that education has the keys to our success.

From my nursery class down to tertiary education, I have had really great memories. including the bad experiences that come with being a student, but all the same, schooling opened my eyes to the reality of life. One can get knowledge without attending school, no doubt, but the knowledge gained from schooling is always extraordinary. From home, church, mosque, social gatherings, and markets, knowledge is all embedded there for one to grab, but being in a school environment is a different vibe all together.In school, I met with different people from different cultures with diverse knowledge, different thoughts about life, and different behaviors. While socializing with them, I got to learn from them in the process. Sometimes, I learn respect and other values as we get along. Mixing up with educated people influenced my way of reasoning for the better, and all these are lessons we learn aside from the course of study, which is the primary goal of enrolling in a school.

Life as a student was enjoyable in many ways, and one thing I am forever grateful for is the knowledge I gained from schooling. No matter my bad experiences due to inadequate funds while in school, I don't think I would have gotten the kind of knowledge I have now if I didn't pass through school. This knowledge has affected my life positively in different ways. Take, for instance, being a writer and earning from that; there is no way I could have navigated through this opportunity if I didn't pass through school. An educated person has the advantage of utilizing opportunities meant for only those who are educated, while also having the capacity to explore other ways of earning with the knowledge he has gained from schooling. This has been my story, and the fact that I have the ability to read, write, and comprehend is something to be grateful for. The ability to communicate with people across the globe and even do business with them has been possible and easier through the knowledge I gained from schooling.

The school experience was fun and challenging at the same time, but I am grateful for where it has brought me today.

This post was inspired by the #hivelearners community contest on the topic titled Life ass a Student